January Member Meeting
This month’s meeting took a different and deeply meaningful format. Instead of a traditional presentation, we held a conversation, one rooted in lived experience, reflection, and learning.
Our speaker, Barry Stein of Colorectal Cancer Canada, is a colon cancer survivor who has gone on to become an advocate and eventually the CEO of a colorectal cancer organisation. He shared his journey openly with our members. What emerged was not just a personal story of survival, but a powerful lesson on how lived experience can shape advocacy, leadership, and systems change.
The conversation began at the point of diagnosis, a moment that, for many cancer patients, becomes a defining life event. Our speaker reflected on the early days of navigating the health system, highlighting both moments of support and significant gaps.
As the discussion moved forward, the focus shifted to advocacy. Our speaker shared that advocacy often begins not with confidence, but with frustration. Frustration at unmet needs, invisible patient voices, and systems that are not designed with lived realities in mind.
Perhaps the most powerful part of the conversation explored the transition from advocacy into leadership. As a CEO with lived experience of colon cancer, our speaker described how survivorship has influenced his leadership style, decision-making, and organisational values.
For members, this was a critical moment of reflection, particularly around governance, strategy, and ethical engagement with patient advocates. The conversation challenged leaders to consider where patient voices truly sit within their work, whether in programs, leadership, and long-term vision.
The session closed with a simple but powerful call to action for passionate advocates who want to start organisations. Don’t overthink it, just do it.
We are grateful to Barry for his openness and generosity, and to our members for engaging deeply with this important discussion. Conversations like these reaffirm why centring patient voices is essential to improving colorectal cancer outcomes and strengthening the work we do together.
Our next meeting is onFebruary 18th at 15:00 UTC. We hope you’ll join us!
To subscribe to thecalendar of future meetings or to watch the recordings of past meetings, visitthe GCCA Member Portal. The password is available in our latestmember newsletter, or you can email jenn@globalcca.orgfor access.
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